Federal Subpoenas for Iowa Antiwar Activists

Is this to stifle dissent, or not?

“Judge Issues Rare Subpoenas to University, Peace Activists” (Feb. 8), on a subpoena of Drake University and subpoenas served on four antiwar activists protesting the occupation of Iraq, reflects a resurgence of McCarthyism. Federal prosecutors were intent on identifying those who attended the protest and the leaders of the National Lawyers Guild who sponsored the forum, which included nonviolence training. Furthermore, the judge issued a gag order forbidding discussion of the subpoena by the school officials.

It has been decades since the last such subpoenas were served on U.S. universities.

Eric Field

Santa Monica

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One of the most chilling stories to appear in The Times in a long time assures us that the fears of so many -- that the Bush administration has no “bottom” in its attempts to freeze opposition to its policies -- are a full-blown and sinister reality. The subpoenas issued by a federal judge in Iowa at Drake University are yet another nail in the coffin of civil liberties in this country. The victims in this case are peace activists who participated in a forum on peace. Records of all in charge of the meeting, “observations” made at the meeting and records of attendees were asked for, and some must appear before the grand jury.

Unless we depose the Bush monarchy in November, we fear that this is just the beginning.

Richard Glickman

Harriet Glickman

Sherman Oaks